Dekmar comes off bench to score PV's lone goal in victory

BRODHEADSVILLE — While Pleasant Valley awaits word on its star player, her replacement came up big Wednesday.

JOE MIEGOC

BRODHEADSVILLE — While Pleasant Valley awaits word on its star player, her replacement came up big Wednesday.

Keri Dekmar scored just over 16 minutes into the second half and the Bears' defense played a strong final 40 minutes in a 1-0 victory over Pocono Mountain West in Mountain Valley Conference girls soccer at Pleasant Valley Stadium.

The goal was the second of the season for Dekmar, who was starting for injured forward Dianna Connor. The Pocono Record Player of the Year in the spring, Connor injured her left knee in last Thursday's match against East Stroudsburg South and hasn't played since. She had an MRI on Monday and will find out the results today.

In the meantime, the Bears (11-3, 8-1) have had to play without their leading scorer, but got a big lift in the second half from Dekmar. A good athlete who started on PV's conference-winning basketball team last winter, Dekmar gathered in a perfect pass from Aubrey Aldinger and snuck a shot inside the near post with 23:55 to go in the second half.

"I knew I had big shoes to fill with Dianna out because she's a big part of our team," Dekmar said. "So I knew going in it was going to be hard, but I just keep trying my best and try to do what she's been doing."

After playing with just three defenders in the back in the opening half, PV dropped an extra player back following intermission and it worked quite well.

The Panthers (8-5-1, 5-4-1) finished with four shots in the second half after taking five in the first, but of those four shots none were dangerous opportunities.

"The first half we were trying to go a little more offensive and change up what we do," Pleasant Valley coach Tim Hinton said. "It wasn't bad, but I felt that once we shifted back to more of what we were used to that we were getting the same amount of chances and we were able to control more and play a little smarter."

When West was able to get a shot on goal, Janelle Pastrana was there to make the save.

Pastrana, who has split time in goal with Hailey Parks for most of the season, made nine saves while playing the entire match because of Parks being out with an injury.

"It was good," Pastrana said. "She got hurt, but she'll be back soon. I like splitting the games with her. She's a very good goalie and we work together, we help each other and we push each other."

The Bears will continue to push forward until they know when Connor will be back.

The senior leads the team in goals (20) and points (44) after scoring 30 goals and 63 points in the spring.

"We've just got to plan like we have to play without her and then it's a bonus if we do get her back," Hinton said. "(Wednesday) was a good step forward and hopefully we'll go to Lehighton on Friday and get used to it and jell more as a team and keep rolling from there."